De Goede: London derby against Quins perfect chance to bounce back

Sophie de Goede knows all about bouncing back and sees this weekend’s London derby clash with Harlequins as a golden opportunity for Saracens to kick-start their Premiership Women’s Rugby season.

The recently crowned World Player of the Year was part of the Sarries side that was put to the sword by three-time defending champions Gloucester Hartpury on Sunday as the Queens of Kingsholm ran out comfortable 40-14 winners.

De Goede admitted the outing in the West Country was “one of those games where nothing seemed to go right”, but the 2025 World Cup finalist with Canada is steadfast in her belief that the best way to move on is by getting back out on the field – starting at the StoneX Stadium in a rematch of the PWR Cup final.

“[Gloucester] played really well, and we just didn’t really fire in any part of our game,” she said. “We couldn’t get a foothold in the game, and it compounded from there.

“We had some uncharacteristic knock-ons, our scrum was put under pressure, and we didn’t respond very well, which led to penalties. It was a vicious cycle we found ourselves in. 

"That happens sometimes in sport, you just don’t show up. It’s out of our system now.

“But there’s a lot of motivation for us [this weekend]. It’s about how we bounce back and get the first win of the season. 

"It’s the London derby. We just beat Quins in the cup final, so there’s already extra rivalry popping up this year.

“It’s the best way to move on, having another big game coming up. The numbers look really positive for the size of the crowd, so there’s a lot of excitement around the whole atmosphere and event. 

"It’s always easier to play at home. Saracens fans always come out in droves, so it’s a really good set-up for us to bounce back.”

De Goede, who is enjoying her second spell at Saracens having rejoined in 2023, has had, by her own admission, “a rollercoaster” last few years, which has seen her recover from a serious knee injury – and subsequent infection – to being named the best player on the planet.

Torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments kept her out of Canada’s 2024 Olympic squad before a staph infection – caused by staphylococcus bacteria entering the body through a break in the skin – hospitalised De Goede for a week in April and required both further surgery and a six-month course of antibiotics.

But her fighting spirit and desire to represent her country again never waned. In fact, they were the very things that drove her to return from her enforced absence from the game.

She continued: “I really love rugby. I just wanted to play again. The sport has taken me to amazing places and given me great opportunities, but at the heart of it is a genuine love and passion for the game. I really missed it, and that drove me.

“I’ve always admired champions in other sports, players like Kobe [Bryant], [Michael] Jordan and [Tom] Brady, and I wanted to be great at whatever I do. I studied their mindset, their champion DNA, and tried to emulate that during rehab and after returning.

“I also wanted to get back for Canada. I’m a really proud Canadian and wanted to represent my country at what I knew would be a pinnacle event for our sport. Our team is really tight-knit, so I wanted to get back among them and contribute.

“It was a combination of a genuine love of rugby, representing Canada again and wanting to be great that got me back.”

Sunday’s defeat to Gloucester Hartpury was a rematch and a repeat of the outcome of last season’s PWR final – a showpiece loss that extended three-time winners Sarries’ wait for another domestic crown to at least four years.

And with the Circus having a huge target on their backs as defending champions, De Goede’s aim for the campaign is to be the one who hits said target and replaces them as the number one side in England.

She said: “The goal is winning the league. I don’t think in terms of minimum or maximum goals, I just have one goal, and that’s to win. 

"I haven’t been able to win the championship with Saracens yet, and at our club, anything less isn’t really a success. I want to contribute to the history of the club and bring home a championship.”

Sunday’s encounter with Quins will see De Goede come up against the player she replaced as the world’s best in Ellie Kildunne.

She received the award on the day of the World Cup final, after Kildunne helped the Red Roses to a 33-13 victory over Canada in front of 81,885 fans at Allianz Stadium.

That day in southwest London remains a conflicting one for De Goede: the pain of coming up short at loggerheads with the pride of guiding her country that far.

But it reminded her that although she had reached the pinnacle of the sport on an individual level, there will always be more work to be done.

“I still want more,” added De Goede. “Part of greatness is consistency and doing it again and again; not settling when you think you’ve arrived.

"I think when I’m playing at my best, I’m the best player in the world, but you have to continually prove that.

“Last year was a rollercoaster for me, and I want this coming year and season to prove consistency, not just to peak at a big event. That’s motivating me now: how can I back up that award and that recognition with consistency, and be great throughout an entire year?

“Personal accolades are cool to receive. They’re certainly an honour, and they go on the résumé, but ultimately, you measure success more by wins and losses. 

"The main thing I want this weekend is for us to get a win, and, of course, I’d like to play well.”

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